Post by seraaches on Aug 30, 2008 20:23:05 GMT -5
He was behind the house weeding their small herb and vegetable garden when the men came. Neviah, always a bit more of a tattle tale, called out to him first, galloping up awkwardly on her peculiar three cloven hooves and one footpad. He loved that foot, just as he loved her colouring. He laid aside the sage he had picked up and calmly listened to her scattered, panicked story. This, too, he loved about her. His head rose up, his rack of antlers showing as he scented the air instinctively.
“It’s all right, Neviah. Let’s go see what they want.”
He stood up, even his height impressive and he leaned down from his unusual bipedal form to collect the little girl. He balanced her over his shoulder and only after she had curled up her legs to hold on did he begin to stride towards the strangers waiting down the lane a short way. Mirai, the dear sweet thing, was talking happily to them, her tail waving vaguely behind her. His blue eyes narrowed in surprise at the sight of the two men and the prominent colours that decorated them. A Heart and a Club. He didn’t touch the Spade that decorated his own breast, though he wondered what they could possibly want here. Neviah was the highest rank among them and she was merely a Seven. Hardly of consequence, certainly beneath notice.
Mirai had bounced to her feet, three wonderful paws and one cloven hoof, and even now was leading them up the lane. Reston’s ears went back uneasily and Neviah quickly caught on to his tension.
“Daddy? Daddy, what’s wrong?” She was swift to panic, swift to become emotional; it was perfect in her.
“Nothing yet, Sweetfoot,” he answered quietly. “Let’s meet them at the house.”
They arrived long before the men reached them, but the Avington deer could easily read the speculating looks as they scanned his bare chest and dirt-covered hands. He was right; a Highlander cormorant with a bright red Ten and a Heart on his chest with an equally red Morganberry mouse marked by a Nine and a Club. He tried to keep his suspicions from showing in his gaze.
“Strange company in an unexpected region,” he greeted them with a light-hearted tone.
The Highlander simply smiled easily as the Morganberry saluted merrily. Reston felt as though his stomach dropped three feet. Something really wasn’t right.
“We’re not looking for trouble,” he said tersely. “This is my family’s land. . .”
“You’re scaring him, Alachard,” the mouse said brightly. “You’re mistaken about our intentions. . . Reston?” He tested the name in the early afternoon air.
The deer jerked his head in a motion of uneasy affirmation. “So what do you want?”
Belatedly Reston realized the girls were curling themselves around him, fear beginning to show in their eyes. He quickly knelt down and placed a hand on each of them. So precious in their own way. “Now, girls, why don’t you hop inside and put together some refreshments for our guests?”
Neviah wanted to argue, he could see it in her face, but she wouldn’t with Mirai there. No, she had to be a good influence for her little sister; they’d discussed this before at length. The girls obediently moved inside and Reston crossed his arms as he looked back at the men again.
“Despite Edward’s rather enthusiastic introduction,” the Ten said gently. “We really are here on a peaceful mission.”
The Morganberry smirked at his taller comrade. “Yes, yes, I’m sure he’ll believe that without proof.”
Alachard shook his head and pulled out an envelope which he offered to the Spade with a faint smile. “This should help explain.”
The envelope bore the seal of both Courts and Reston glanced suspiciously towards the two men again.
“You, ah, might want to be sitting down when you read it,” the Highlander said quietly.
Reston’s ears went back and he felt his heart sink down with his stomach.
“Daddy?” Mirai called cheerfully through the door. “It’s ready!”
The two messengers waited respectfully as the stag stared at them, thoughts racing through his mind and only showing to a degree across his face. “Would you like to come in?” He finally asked in a low voice. The Morganberry moved jauntily indoors and cormorant gave him a sorrowful smile as he walked by. Reston sighed, his eyes returning to the envelope. He was afraid of what might be inside of it. Still, he had guests to see to. He carried the letter inside, quietly shutting the door behind him.
“It’s all right, Neviah. Let’s go see what they want.”
He stood up, even his height impressive and he leaned down from his unusual bipedal form to collect the little girl. He balanced her over his shoulder and only after she had curled up her legs to hold on did he begin to stride towards the strangers waiting down the lane a short way. Mirai, the dear sweet thing, was talking happily to them, her tail waving vaguely behind her. His blue eyes narrowed in surprise at the sight of the two men and the prominent colours that decorated them. A Heart and a Club. He didn’t touch the Spade that decorated his own breast, though he wondered what they could possibly want here. Neviah was the highest rank among them and she was merely a Seven. Hardly of consequence, certainly beneath notice.
Mirai had bounced to her feet, three wonderful paws and one cloven hoof, and even now was leading them up the lane. Reston’s ears went back uneasily and Neviah quickly caught on to his tension.
“Daddy? Daddy, what’s wrong?” She was swift to panic, swift to become emotional; it was perfect in her.
“Nothing yet, Sweetfoot,” he answered quietly. “Let’s meet them at the house.”
They arrived long before the men reached them, but the Avington deer could easily read the speculating looks as they scanned his bare chest and dirt-covered hands. He was right; a Highlander cormorant with a bright red Ten and a Heart on his chest with an equally red Morganberry mouse marked by a Nine and a Club. He tried to keep his suspicions from showing in his gaze.
“Strange company in an unexpected region,” he greeted them with a light-hearted tone.
The Highlander simply smiled easily as the Morganberry saluted merrily. Reston felt as though his stomach dropped three feet. Something really wasn’t right.
“We’re not looking for trouble,” he said tersely. “This is my family’s land. . .”
“You’re scaring him, Alachard,” the mouse said brightly. “You’re mistaken about our intentions. . . Reston?” He tested the name in the early afternoon air.
The deer jerked his head in a motion of uneasy affirmation. “So what do you want?”
Belatedly Reston realized the girls were curling themselves around him, fear beginning to show in their eyes. He quickly knelt down and placed a hand on each of them. So precious in their own way. “Now, girls, why don’t you hop inside and put together some refreshments for our guests?”
Neviah wanted to argue, he could see it in her face, but she wouldn’t with Mirai there. No, she had to be a good influence for her little sister; they’d discussed this before at length. The girls obediently moved inside and Reston crossed his arms as he looked back at the men again.
“Despite Edward’s rather enthusiastic introduction,” the Ten said gently. “We really are here on a peaceful mission.”
The Morganberry smirked at his taller comrade. “Yes, yes, I’m sure he’ll believe that without proof.”
Alachard shook his head and pulled out an envelope which he offered to the Spade with a faint smile. “This should help explain.”
The envelope bore the seal of both Courts and Reston glanced suspiciously towards the two men again.
“You, ah, might want to be sitting down when you read it,” the Highlander said quietly.
Reston’s ears went back and he felt his heart sink down with his stomach.
“Daddy?” Mirai called cheerfully through the door. “It’s ready!”
The two messengers waited respectfully as the stag stared at them, thoughts racing through his mind and only showing to a degree across his face. “Would you like to come in?” He finally asked in a low voice. The Morganberry moved jauntily indoors and cormorant gave him a sorrowful smile as he walked by. Reston sighed, his eyes returning to the envelope. He was afraid of what might be inside of it. Still, he had guests to see to. He carried the letter inside, quietly shutting the door behind him.
Can't wait to read more. ^^
